On 5 December, about 15 volunteers from many different groups got together round a pop-up parklet to hand out leaflets and chat to passers-by about the many benefits of LTNs, People Friendly Streets. Many people were enthusiastic about them and loved the safer, quieter streets and cleaner air and lots of families were out and about enjoying the sun. A few people had some concerns which we will pass on to the Council.

We now have several Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Islington, all of which are delivering safer, quieter streets, cleaner air and more opportunities for communities to get together. Get involved in your local LTN, come and enjoy the ones already implemented, work towards your own LTN as the programme is rolled out. Importantly, talk to your councillors who hold regular ward partnership meetings and who are keen to hear from residents. More information here

The seven endangered trees at Dixon Clark Court are still standing as at 17 October, ie nearly two weeks after their second deadline, the first having been in March. This is thanks to several tree protectors who are camping at the site at Highbury preventing the council’s developers from chopping them down to make way for a private block of flats and also to a relentless press campaign by many others. XR Islington and other community groups and individuals are determined to fight for the trees. Islington’s trees desperately need more protection so please sign this petition. Currently only 400 (that’s just 1%) of our local trees have any protection at all and this should be 100%. Please have a read and if you can, sign and spread the petition to everyone you know in Islington who cares about our trees. Many thanks. Petition is here

Sign up for our next webinar – The Power of the Pedestrian Pound on 15 October at 1730. Come with concerns, questions or curiousity and our three fab speakers with a wealth of experience and evidence will be able to help. STOP PRESS; delighted that two local traders are now also on our panel, Hak and Nick. Sign up here:

Our webinar on the Power of the Pedestrian Pound is confirmed. More details on EventBrite shortly but to tempt you, we are delighted to confirm three expert speakers and fingers crossed, a fourth to be announced soon:

• Stephen Edwards, Director of Policy and Communications, London Living Streets
• Cllr Clyde Loakes, deputy Leader and Environment Portfolio holder from Waltham Forest Council
• Christopher Martin, Co-founder and Director of Urban Strategy, Urban Movement

Here’s a link to a brochure telling you all about People Friendly Streets and what they mean for residents, emergency services, pedestrians, parents and children, the elderly, disabled people, shop owners, drivers and cyclists – in short, everyone who uses them.

Planning for our next webinar, date tbc at the end of September, is already well under way. We wanted to showcase how Low Traffic Neighbourhoods can actually increase footfall and that traders have nothing to fear. Some experts are lined up to share their experiences with us so keep an eye out for further information.

Two Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, in Islington branded as People Friendly Streets schemes, have been implemented in St Peters and Canonbury East with four more planned over the next few months. Sadly, there has been a lot of noisy mis-information spread recently by those who apparently want dangerous, noisy streets and filthy air. So let’s spread a little love by putting up posters showing some support. Get creative with small relatives and friends and a box of crayons. Let’s get green hearts all over Islington !